Alibaba Cloud opens second data centre in Japan
Alibaba Cloud has opened its second data centre in Japan, doubling its capacity in the country where it is seeing growing demand for big data analytics with machine learning capabilities. The new facility runs on 25G network infrastructure, an upgrade from its original 10G network, and P100 card GPU-based GN5 Instance to process graphics for machine learning.
Between the two local data centres, Alibaba said its cloud unit will be able to offer more than 50 services, including elastic computing, image search, database, networking, disaster recovery, and storage services. It added that these can cater to key sectors such as e-commerce, games, media, manufacturing, and Internet of Things.
Alibaba in 2016 inked a deal with Japan's telecom giant Softbank to buy back shares estimated to be worth US$7.9 billion. The two companies also formed a joint venture, SB Cloud, to launch Alibaba Cloud's services and first data centre in Japan. Alibaba said it also worked with local partners, including MITSUI & Co, NEC, and ITOCHU Techno-Solutions, to support its Japanese customers.
The Chinese cloud vendor currently operates a global cloud footprint that spans 56 availability zones across 19 regions, with some availability zones comprising one or more data centres.
It also launched a second data centre in Indonesia earlier this month, 10 months after opening its first in the ASEAN market. The facility is part of a network of eight international data centre regions in Asia-Pacific that includes Singapore, Australia, and Malaysia.
Alibaba Cloud over the past year has been ramping up its expansion plans in the region, which it had earmarked as a priority growth area. It first launched in China in 2009, before expanding beyond its domestic market in 2015 when it set up its international headquarters in Singapore, and has pledged US$1 billion to grow its data centre footprint in the region.
For its September 2018 quarterly results, Alibaba's cloud revenue climbed 90 percent year-over-year to US$825 million (5.667 billion yuan). The business, however, registered a loss of US$34 million (232 million yuan), compared to a loss of 162 million yuan in the previous year.
RELATED COVERAGE
Infrastructure needs to be ready for cloud to take off in APAC
Markets such as Indonesia still are grappling to roll out fibre connectivity to all users, without which cloud adoption will be premature, while some large businesses also have to ensure it makes economic sense to do so.
Alibaba sees opportunities amidst trade tensions as cloud revenue climbs 90 percent
Chinese internet giant's cloud revenue continues to grow, climbing 90 percent in its latest fiscal quarter, as departing chairman Jack Ma identifies opportunities amidst trade tensions with the US.
Alibaba takes more cloud products global, eyes APAC growth
Chinese internet giant talks up new product releases such as Anti-Bot Service and its datacentre footprint in Asia-Pacific as key differentiators against cloud rivals, Amazon Web Services and Google. Its machine learning specialist also urges need for governments looking to build smart cities, such as Singapore, to ensure its citizens benefit from such initiatives.
Alibaba to launch own AI chip next year
Chinese internet giant sets up a semiconductor company and unveils plans to release its own artificial intelligence processor, as it looks to boost support for its cloud and Internet of Things businesses.
Google talks up APAC cloud support as Alibaba intensifies gameplay
Amid Alibaba's increased efforts to build up its cloud footprint, Google also is beefing up its coverage in Asia-Pacific where it says it will operate seven cloud regions by early-2019, up from just one region two years ago.